High temperature material introduction apparatus

ABSTRACT

This invention relates to the introduction of various materials such as oxidizing agents into high temperature environments. More particularly, the invention is directed to improved apparatus for introducing two or more separate such materials into highly heated chambers or vessels such as metal refining furnaces, reactors, convertors and the like.

[ Aug. 13, 1974 United States Patent 1191 McMinn et a1.

11/1955 Young et a1 3,620,684 11/1971 Brooks et al........ 3 724,447 4/1973 Parkhill ct al.

Primary Examiner-Charles Sukalo Attorney, Agent, or FirmDunla Dougherty & Codding [73] Assignee: Black, Sivalls & Bryson, Inc.,

Houston, Tex.

p, Laney, Hessin.

[22] Filed: July 12, 1973 ABSTRACT 211 App]. No.2 378,499

52 U S Cl This invention relates to the introduction of various l5ll Int Cl Fzsf 13/12 materials such as oxidizing agents into high temperature environments. More particularly, the invention is directed to improve more separate such bers or vessels suc [58] Field of Search d apparatus for introducing two or materials into highly heated chamh as metal refining furnaces, reac- 1 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS tors, convertors and the like.

1,633,271 6/1927 Pauly 165/169 6 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures HIGH TEMPERATURE MATERIAL INTRODUCTION APPARATUS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention pertains to the field of high temperature material introduction apparatus, and more particularly, but not by way of limitation, the invention relates to apparatus for introducing materials into highly heated vessels wherein burnout of the apparatus is prevented by circulating a coolant therethrough.

2. Description of the Prior Art In many industrial processes it is necessary to introduce materials such as fuels and oxidizing agents into the interiors of highly heated chambers or vessels. For

example, in steel refining processes, oxygen or oxygenenriched air is commonly injected into molten metal so that impurities are removed therefrom by oxidation. Generally, the oxygen or oxygen-enriched air is injected below the surface of the molten metal by means of a material introduction apparatus commonly referred to as a'lance.

In other metal treating techniques as well as in various processes wherein it is required to introduce fuel, air, oxygen or other materials into highly heated vessels above or below the surface of materials existing therein at high temperatures, lance apparatus for introducing the materials areutilized which extend into the high temperature environment. So that such material introduction lances can withstand the high temperature encountered without rapid deterioration, they are subjected to cooling by circulating a coolant therethrough.

Heretofore, when it has been required to introduce two or more separate materials into a high temperature environment of the type described above, two or more material introduction lances have been employed, each of which requires the circulation of a coolant therethrough and the attendant heatexchange and coolant recirculation equipment.

By the present invention an improved high temperature material introduction lance apparatus is provided wherein two or more separate materials can be introduced into a high temperature environment simultaneously, and wherein a single coolant heat exchange and recirculation system is required.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to lance apparatus for introducing a plurality of separate materials into a high temperature environment which comprises a closed elongated outer shell having a forward end adapted to extend into the high temperature environment and a rearward end, a plurality of conduits secured within the outer shell and positioned so that a coolant passageway is formed between the outer shell and the plurality of conduits, the forward ends of the conduits extending through the forward end of the outer shell thereby forming a plurality of material discharge nozzles therein and the rearward ends of the conduits extending through the rearward ends of the outer shell forming a plurality of material inlet connections therein, a coolant inlet connection communicating with the coolant passageway formed in the outer shell at the rearward end thereof, a coolant outlet connection communicating with the coolant passageway formed in the outer shell at the rearward end thereof, and means disposed within the coolant passageway for causing coolant introduced through the coolant inlet to circulate through the coolant passageway along the entire length of the outer shell and then exit the outer shell by way of the coolant outlet.

It is, therefore, a general object of the present invention to provide an improved apparatus for introducing materials into a high temperature environment.

A further object of the present invention is the provision of an improved lance apparatus for introducing materials into a high temperature environment wherein two or more separate materials can be introduced by way of the apparatus.

Yet a further object of the present invention is the provision of lance apparatus for introducing two or more separate materials into a highly heated environment wherein a single stream of coolant and a single attendant system for removing heat from the coolant and recirculating it are required.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of apparatus for introducing a plurality of separate materials into a high temperature environment which is economical to manufacture, install and operate as compared to heretofore used apparatus.

Other and further objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art upon a reading of the description of preferred embodiments which follows taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a partly sectional, partly diagrammatic illustration of a highly heated vessel including the material introduction apparatus of the present invention,

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the material introduction apparatus of the present invention in crosssection,

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 3--3 of FIG. 2, and

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 44 of FIG. 2.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring now to the drawings and particularly to FIG. 1, the material introduction lance of the present invention is generally designated by the numeral 10 and is illustrated connected to a conventional vessel 12 containing a body of a highly heated material 14. As will be described further hereinbelow, the vessel 12 can represent a part of any of a variety of systems wherein it is desirable to introduce two or more materials into the interior of the vessel 12.

Referring to FIGS. 2 through 4, the material introduction lance apparatus 10 is shown in detail. The lance 10 is basically comprised of an elongated outer shell 16 having a forward end 18 and a rearward end 20. The forward end 18 of the outer shell is closed by a front wall 22, and the rearward end 20 is closed by a rear wall 24 thereof.

A first conduit 26 is secured within the outer shell 16 and positioned so that a coolant passageway 27 is formed between the outer shell and the conduit 26. Preferably, as illustrated in the drawings, both the outer shell 16 and the conduit 26 are cylindrical in shape and are positioned coaxially. The conduit 26 may extend through the front wall 22 of the outer shell 16 therby forming a material discharge nozzle therein, or alternatively, as shown in FIG. 2, the forward end 28 of the conduit 26 can terminate just inside the front wall 22 of the outer shell. In this preferred arrangement, the forward end 28 of the conduit 26 is closed by a front wall 30, and a pair of oppositely facing openings 32 are provided in the sides of the conduit 26 at the forward end 28 thereof. A pair of similar openings 34 are provided in the outer shell at the forward end 18 thereof, and each pair of openings 32 and 34 are connected by a sealed connector 36. Thus, the openings 32, the con nectors 36 and the openings 34 form material discharge nozzles in the forward end 18' of the outer shell 16, which nozzles are connected to the internal portion .of the first conduit 26.

The rearward end 38 of the first conduit 26 extends through the rear wall 24 of the outer shell 16 thereby forming a first material inlet at the rearward end 20 of the outer shell 16, and a conventional flange connection 40 is attached thereto. A second conduit 42 is disposed within the outer shell 16, preferably within the first conduit 26. The forward end 44 of the second conduit 42 extends through the front wall 22 of the outer shell 16 thereby forming a second material discharge nozzle 45 therein. The rearward end 46 of the second conduit 42 extends through the outer shell 16 at the rearward end 20 thereof, and through the rearward end 38 of the first conduit 26 so that a second material inlet connection is provided at the rearward end 20 of the outer shell 16. A conventional flange connection 48 is attached to the rearward end of the second conduit 42.

Referring now specifically to FIG. 2, a pair of oppositely extending coolant connections 50 and 52 are provided in the outer shell 16 at the rearward end 20 thereof. That is, a coolant inlet connection 50 is provided positioned on one side of the outer shell 16 and a coolant outlet connection 52 is positioned on the opposite side of the outer shell 16. Conventional flanges 54 and 56 are provided attached to the coolant inlet and outlet connections 50 and 52, respectively.

As best shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, a pair of elongated baffles 60 and 62 are secured within the coolant passageway 27 along the entire length thereof from the rear wall 24 of the outer shell 16 to a point a short distance from the front wall 22 of the outer-shell 16. The baffles 60 and 62 preferably both lie in a plane which intersects the common axis of the outer shell 16 and first conduit 26. The baffles 60 and 62 are sealingly attached to the outer shell 16, the rear wall 24 thereof, and the first conduit 10, and are positioned between the coolant inlet and outlet connections 50 and 52 so that a continuous path within the coolant passageway 27 is formed extending from the coolant inlet 50 to the forward end 18 of the outer shell 16 and then to the coolant outlet connection 52.

In order to insure efficient heat transfer from the parts of the apparatus 10 to a stream of coolant flowing through the coolant passageway 27, and particularly from the outer shell 16 which is directly exposed to the high temperature environment, a plurality of baffle plates 64 are secured within the coolant passageway 27. Preferably, the baffle plates 64 are annular in shape and are attached'to the walls of the outer shell 16 and the first conduit 26 in planes perpendicular to the common axis of the outer shell and first conduit. As shown in FIG. 2, the baffleplates 64 arealtematingly attached to opposite walls so that a stream of coolant passing through the coolant passageway 27 is forced to follow a tortuous path from one end of the apparatus 10 to the other.

As will be understood by those skilled'in the art, the first and second conduits 26 and 42 secured within the outer shell 16 of the lance 10 are utilized to conduct the materials to be introduced into the high temperature environment through the apparatus 10. While two such conduits have been described and illustrated in the drawings for purposes of this disclosure, it is to be understood that a plurality of conduits for discharging a plurality of materials can be included in the outer shell 16 of the apparatus 10 limited only by size and cost consideration. The various conduits can be positioned adjacent one another within the outer shell 16, or a first conduit of large diameter can be provided with the remaining conduits disposed therewithin. However, the various conduits utilized must be sized and arranged within the outer shell 16 so that a coolant passageway is provided between the conduits and the outer shell.

In order to facilitate mounting the apparatus 10 on a vessel or chamber with the forward end 18 of the outer shell 16 thereof extending within the vessel or chamber, an annular flange 66 is provided attached to the outer shell 16. The flange 66 is of a conventional diameter and includes a plurality of openings 68 for receiving conventional studs whereby it can be bolted to a complementary flange member connected to the vessel or chamber.

Operation In operation of the lance 10 for introducing materials into a high temperature environment within a vessel or chamber, the lance 10 is mounted with the forward end highly heated material 14 into which it is desired to introduce reactant materials. The vessel 12 includes a reactant charge connection 70, and an outlet connection 72 connected to a pipe 74 for withdrawing gaseous reaction products therefrom. The flange 66 of the apparatus 10 is bolted to a complementary flange 76 which is in turn connected to a nozzle 78 attached to the vesse] 12. Thus, as will be understood, if the apparatus 10 must be removed from the vessel 12, it can be withdrawn therefrom by way of the nozzle 78. i

A stream of coolant is caused to flow to the coolant inlet connection 50 of the apparatus 10 by way of a conduit 80 connected to the flange 54 thereof, and coolant is removed from the apparatus 10 by way of a conduit 82 connected to the flange 56 of the coolant outlet connection 52. The coolant utilized may be any of a variety of cooling media, either liquid or vapor, which will adequately remove the heat transferred through the walls of the outer shell 16 from the high temperature environment into which the forward end of the apparatus 10 is extended. The particular coolant used will depend on a variety of factors, the primary one of which is the temperature of the environment to which the apparatus 10 is exposed. If the temperature of the environment is relatively low, a liquid cooling medium such as water or oil, or a gaseous cooling medium such as steam may be utilized. If the temperature of the environment to which the apparatus is exposed is relatively high, such as is the case where the apparatus 10 is utilized to introduce materials beneath the surface of a molten metal, a high temperature liquid cooling medium, e.g., a metal or mixture of metals having a suitable melting point, may be utilized.

Referring now to FIGS. 2 through 4, the coolant introduced through the coolant inlet connection 50 of the apparatus 10 flows through the coolant passageway 27 to the forward end 18 of the outer shell 16 and then back to the rearward end 20 thereof from where it exits the apparatus 10 by way of the coolant outlet connection 52. As the coolant flows through the apparatus 10, it removes heat therefrom so that the apparatus 10 is maintained at a temperature level at which rapid high temperature deterioration of the materials from which the apparatus 10 is formed does not take place. The stream of hot coolant which exits the apparatus 10 is conducted to a system of apparatus (not shown) wherein it is recooled and recirculated back to the inlet connection 50 of the apparatus 10. Any of a variety of coolant recirculating and cooling processes and systems can be utilized in conjunction with the apparatus 10. A particularly suitable such process and system is described and claimed in our copending application for U.S., Ser. No. 323,996 filed Jan. 15, 1973.

As the apparatus, 10 is cooled by the stream of coolant flowing therethrough, one or more materials can be continuously or intermittently introduced into the high temperature environment by way of the first and second conduits 26 and 42, respectively. For example, referring to FIG. 1, let it be assumed that the material 14 within the vessel 12 is a body of molten metal, and it is desired to continuously introduce reactants, suchas a particulated solid fuel, and an oxidizing agent, e.g., air, beneath the surface of the molten metal. The air is caused to flow to the apparatus 10 by way of a conduit 84 attached to the flange connection of the first conduit 26 so that it flows through the first conduit 26 and the discharge nozzles 35 of the apparatus '10, into the body of molten metal 14. The particulated fuel is caused to flow to the second conduit 42 by way of a conduit 86 attached thereto and through the second conduit 42 and the nozzle 45 of the apparatus 10.

In the application where air and fuel, or other materials which are combustible when mixed together, are introduced into a high temperature environment, the preferred arrangement of the various parts of the apparatus 10 described above is particularly suitable. That is, the air passing through the first conduit 26 supplements the coolant in removing heat from the apparatus 10 while the air is simultaneouslypreheated. Further, the air is kept separated from the fuel and is discharged from the apparatus 10 at points separated from the nozzle 45 through which the fuel discharges so that combustion of the air and fuel does not prematurely take place within the apparatus 10.

Thus, the present invention is well suited to carry out the objects and advantages mentioned as well as those inherent therein. While presently preferred embodiments of the invention are given for the purpose of this disclosure, numerous changes in the details of construction and arrangement of the various parts can be made which will readily suggest themselves to those skilled in the art and which are encompassed within the spirit of this invention and the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. Lance apparatus for introducing a plurality of separate materials into a high temperature environment which comprises:

a closed elongated outer shell having a forward end adapted to extend into said high temperature environment and a rearward end; plurality of separate conduits secured within the outer shell and positioned so that a coolant passageway is formed between the outer shell and the plurality of conduits, the forward ends of each of the conduits extending through the forward end of the outer shell thereby forming a plurality of material discharge nozzles in the outer shell and the rearward ends of the conduits extending through the rearward end of the outer shell forming a plurality of material inlet connections at the rearward end thereof;

a coolant inlet connection communicating with said coolant passageway formed in the outer shell at the rearward end thereof;

a coolant outlet connection communicating with said coolant passageway formed in the outer shell at the rearward end thereof; and

means disposed within the coolant passageway for causing coolant introduced therein through said coolant inlet to circulate through the coolant passageway along the entire length of the outer shell and then exit the outer shell by way of the coolant outlet.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the means for causing coolant to circulate through the coolant passageway along the entire length of the outer shell comprises a plurality of baffles secured within the coolant passageway forming a path from the coolant inlet at the rearward end of said outer shell to the forward end thereof and then back to the coolant outlet at the rearward end thereof.

3. Lance apparatus for simultaneously introducing two or more materials into a high temperature environment which comprises:

a closed elongated outer shell having a forward end for extending into the high temperature environment and a rearward end;

a first conduit having a forward end and a rearward end secured within the outer shell so that a coolant passageway is formed between the first conduit and the outer shell, the forward end of the first conduit extending open-ended through the forward end of the outer shell thereby forming a first material discharge nozzle in the outer shell and the rearward end of the first conduit extending through the rearward end of the outer shell forming a first material inlet connection at the rearward end thereof;

a second conduit having a forward end and a rearward end positioned within the first conduit, the forward end of the second conduit extending through the forward end of the outer shell thereby forming a second material discharge nozzle in the outer shell and the rearward end of the second conduit extending through the first conduit and the rearward end of the outer shell forming a second material inlet connection at the rearward end of the outer shell;

5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the means for causing coolant to circulate through the coolant passageway along the entire length of the outer shell comprises a pair of divider baffles secured within said passageway in a plane intersecting the common axis of the first conduit and the outer shell and extending from the rearward end of the outer shell between the coolant inlet and the coolant outlet formed therein to a point adjacent the forward end of the outer shell.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 which is further characterized to include a plurality of baffles disposed within said coolant passageway whereby a tortuous path is formed therein. 

1. Lance apparatus for introducing a plurality of separate materials into a high temperature environment which comprises: a closed elongated outer shell having a forward end adapted to extend into said high temperature environment and a rearward end; a plurality of separate conduits secured within the outer shell and positioned so that a coolant passageway is formed between the outer shell and the plurality of conduits, the forward ends of each of the conduits extending through the forward end of the outer shell thereby forming a plurality of material discharge nozzles in the outer shell and the rearward ends of the conduits extending through the rearward end of the outer shell forming a plurality of material inlet connections at the rearward end thereof; a coolant inlet connection communicating with said coolant passageway formed in the outer shell at the rearward end thereof; a coolant outlet connection communicating with said coolant passageway formed in the outer shell at the rearward end thereof; and means disposed within the coolant passageway for causing coolant introduced therein through said coolant inlet to circulate through the coolant passageway along the entire length of the outer shell and then exit the outer shell by way of the coolant outlet.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the means for causing coolant to circulate through the coolant passageway along the entire length of the outer shell comprises a plurality of baffles secured within the coolant passageway forming a path from the coolant inlet at the rearward end of said outer shell to the forward end thereof and then back to the coolant outlet at the rearward end thereof.
 3. Lance apparatus for simultaneously introducing two or more materials into a high temperature environment which comprises: a closed elongated outer shell having a forward end for extending into the high temperature environment and a rearward end; a first conduit having a forward end and a rearward end secured within the outer shell so that a coolant passageway is formed between the first conduit and the outer shell, the forward end of the first conduit extending open-ended through the forward end of the outer shell thereby forming a first material discharge nozzle in the outer shell and the rearward end of the first conduit extending through the rearward end of the outer shell forming a first material inlet connection at the rearward end thereof; a second conduit having a forward end and a rearward end positioned within the first conduit, the forward end of the second conduit extending through the forward end of the outer shell thereby forming a second material discharge nozzle in the outer shell and the rearward end of the second conduit extending through the first conduit and the rearward end of the outer shell forming a second material inlet connection at the rearward end of the outer shell; a coolant inlet connection communicating with said coolant passageway formed in the outer shell at the rearward end thereof; a coolant outlet connection communicating with said coolant passageway formed in the outer shell at the rearward end thereof; and means disposed within the coolant passageway for causing coolant introduced through said coolant inlet to circulate through the coolant passageway along the entire length of the outer shell and then exit by way of said coolant outlet.
 4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the outer shell, the first conduit and the second conduit are positioned coaxially.
 5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the means for causing coolant to circulate through the coolant passageway along the entire length of the outer shell comprises a pair of divider baffles secured within said passageway in a plane intersecting the common axis of the first conduit and the outer shell and extending from the rearward end of the outer shell between the coolant inlet and the coolant outlet formed therein to a point adjacent the forward end of the outer shell.
 6. The apparatus of claim 5 which is further characterized to include a plurality of baffles disposed within said coolant passageway whereby a tortuous path is formed therein. 